001November 25th, 2025 meeting of the High Point Regional High School Board of Education to order. Stanford Place to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Open Public Meetings Act statement. The New Jersey Open Public Meetings Law was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advanced notice of and to attend the meeting of public bodies at which any business affecting their interest is discussed or acted upon. In accordance with the provisions of the act, the board of education has caused notice of this meeting to be published by having the date, time, and place thereof posted at the Augusta, Branchville, and Sussex post offices, and notice sent to the New Jersey Herald, the Sunday
002Herald, and the clerk of the burrows of Branchville, and Sussex, and the townships of Frankfurt, Lafayette, and Wantage. Mission statement. High Point Regional High School in partnership with staff, family, and community is dedicated to the quest for individual excellence. By fostering high standards of achievement, we prepare students to become responsible and productive members of a diverse society. I ask for roll call, please. >> Miss Kac. >> Miss Diaz, >> here. Miss Schuman, >> here. Miss G. Mr. Van >> here. Miss Longberg >> here. >> Miss Orsy >> here. >> Miss Weise. >> Mr. Dunn >> here. >> Dr. Ripley >> here. >> We have a quum. >> Okay. A motion will now be made that High Point Regional High School Board of Education enter executive session to provide an update on legal personnel and negotiations
003items which are exempt from public participation pursuant to New Jersey Public Law 1975, Chapter 231, Open Public Meetings Act. Any discussions held by the board which need not remain confidential will be made public when appropriate. Minutes of the executive session will not be disclosed until the need for confidentiality no longer exists. The board will reconvene in public session in person and virtually at the conclusion of the executive session. It is not anticipated that any action will be taken and we actually uh expect to return uh approximately 15 minutes prior to 7. So, um just to note that that is a deviation from what's posted on the uh agenda right now. Um so I will make that motion. May I have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Any opposed? Okay. May I have
004a um motion to return to public session? >> Second. >> And all in favor? >> I oppose. Okay. So, we were back in public session exactly at the quarter of that I sent you. So, we'll move uh to approval of minutes, the regular meeting minutes of October 28th, 2025 and executive session minutes of Octo October 28, 2025. Um, I'll make the motion to resume those minutes. Can I have a second? Second. Any discussion, any comments, corrections? >> Miss Diaz, abstain. Miss Schuman. >> Miss G. >> Mr. Van Stone. >> Good. >> Slober. >> Yes. >> Miss Wise. >> Yes. >> Sorc. >> Yes. >> Passes. Oh, sorry, Mr. Apologize. >> Um, with that, that brings us to our first public comment on agenda items only. In accordance with the open public meetings act, we will
005open for public comments or agenda items only. At this time, each speaker should state his or her name and address. You will have three minutes to address the board, which will be timed by myself. We will limit this section to no longer than 45 minutes. Please be respectful and mindful that your comments are being recorded. And we have uh both our in-person um lectern and our virtual method to submit public comments. And I'm seeing that we have no public comments there. And I believe we have none in the room. So, may I have a motion to close public comments? In a second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I opposed. Okay. Moving on to presentations then. Uh, first we have George Oriana, speaker of the house, give us an update on the activities of
006the student council. >> Uh, hi. As you know, I'm George uh from student council. Um so just a little update as to what's been going on in November. So uh on 116, the senior class had their senior formal at Kasab Byca at Oakidge and uh for the activities that student council had done for the month of November. Uh we had a a thankfulness takeover for days of gratitude and on 1111 we wore red, white and blue for veterans day. And then on 11:14 we had a hands of thanks activity where we would write uh a thankful thought on after tracing our hands on a piece of paper. Um and then uh on 11:17 we did a gratitude change craft as well as thank you cards. uh for staff, teachers, or local community members. On 1119,
007we did a gratitude jar activity where students would decorate a paper jar with people or things that they're thankful for. And then on 11:21, we did a grateful photo frenzy, uh where there should be pictures floating around. Um, and then 11:25 just uh today during lunch there was a Thanksgiving craft where you would uh scratch into black paper leaves to get a um but that is it for what uh student council did for the month of November. Uh thank you for having me back next month. Next, uh, we have HPA President Les update on the HPA items. >> Good evening, President, members of the board of education, Dr. Ripley, and Miss Bush. I appreciate the opportunity to speak with each um to share a few updates on behalf of the HPA and our association. Uh
008first, I wanted to it's my pleasure to announce that the HBA has selected for this year's educational support professional of the year. Um after thoughtful consideration and recognition of his outstanding dedication, professionalism, and positive impact on our school community, we chose Kevin Perry to represent us on the level. Kevin consistently goes above and beyond his um his role and his commitment to our student and staff. Truly embodies the very best of our district. So, we are proud to support his nomination and we look forward to recognizing him um every day for his exceptional work that he does. Second, um I mentioned last month that we were having the newly elect Steve Bey, the president of NJA come. So, we were very honored to welcome him the end of October. So I should say um right
009after our meeting. So President Bey generously provided lunch for our entire staff and he spent um he spent time meeting with all of our members throughout his time. It was nice to have all of our staff. I feel like we we work really hard and it's not a lot of times where we get out during the lunch hour. So, it was really nice to have all of the staff at the same time collectively. Even if they were just coming in to grab lunch in and out, but the teachers, the par um the entire maintenance staff stop by, secretary stopped by, the counselors, the admin, including Dr. Ripley stopped by um to have lunch and meet him as well as Angela Duka who's the the county president. Um Steve visit reinforced the importance of our strong
010partnership between state association and local district and our members truly appreciated the opportunity to speak with him share their experiences with him and feel the support at the state level as well and last on behalf of our association I wanted to extend our sincere gratitude to the board and to Dr. Ripley um for your collaboration and partnership throughout the negotiations process. After a conversation Dr. and I had, we are pleased to share that um we want to share our new contract with the staff that was officially finalized. So, thank you for that. Um we want to communicate the details to the staff and we thank you for your commitment to working together to reach a fair and positive agreement that supports both our membership and our students. So, thank you for your continued support. Um
011and we look forward to building on this positive momentum throughout the year. And I want to wish you a happy Thanksgiving. Mr. T is not here this evening. So we treat Mr. Campbell instruction. Um I want to thank Miss Sun for your leadership and for a fantastic lunch. Um it really was delicious. It was plentiful and to have the um president of the NJA and the Sussex County EA and the High Point EA um breaking bread and inviting the entire staff together was a great day. So, thank you for your leadership on that. Um in uh last month was extremely busy for assessments. First off, for the 13th consecutive year, um the board supported the um expenditure of providing this valuable assessment to all 11th grade students. Uh last week a letter went out informing
012parents of how to access parents and students, how to access those scores, how to find tailored um improvement um assistance through Khan Academy with links to their strengths and weaknesses and also how to register for the SATs. Those will be hosted at High Point in December, March, and May. So the PSAT is a lot of work. I want to thank is Jacqueline McCarthy for spearheading that and we're happy to be able to give our juniors that valuable assessment which not only is researchbased as one of the most um effective tools to prepare them for success on the SAT but for the graduation requirement it is the second most frequently um utilized assessment score for students to meet that requirement. So it really um has great value for our students. Then Two weeks ago, u the
013super huge uh brand new test, really the largest assessment we've ever given at High Point. Practically every student at the school took this test. It was a practice test. There are no scores and our students were amazing. They really were cooperative and they participated even though it was a practice test. A lot of time, a lot of organization. Thank you to Miss Jess Griggs, to our staff and to our students. The bottom line is we will be much more comfortable and better prepared in March and May when we provide this test um for real. So um we're thankful it's over with and we feel more comfortable and confident with the new platform that the tests in the spring will be. Um last Thursday be our first of three afternoon professional development sessions. want to thank
014the board for their flexibility providing this opportunity. There are a lot of mandating trainings and sometimes we only have a couple of days throughout the year. It's just you've got to mandate mandate mandate. Well, Thursday was the entire staff first of all to give this f 45 to 50 minutes. Everybody have lunch together. That's a nice break. and then in two hours let's sit down and focus on one thing and see if we can be highly productive in our focus was targeted instruction which is one of the district goals using data to identify specific students in each class that need to improve and reach the level of their peers and then planning purposefully to push in in small groups and help those students students to rise up to the level their peers are at is
015an extremely effective researchbased practice. We do it. We need to do it better and we need to do it more often. Um it's challenging. It takes time. It's difficult. And so we spent two hours working on how we can increase this very valuable uh instructional practice. Small group instruction allows you to know your students better. It strengthens relationships and it personalizes learning that makes feedback um targeted and we're happy to see our staff um engaged in it. And couple other things, we're very proud that we now are the site. We host a Sussex Woman Chamber of Commerce meeting each month. Um and in order to not disrupt construction, our chamber members park in the back. They enter through the rear of the building and we have our breakfast meeting up in the road. Now, that's
016wonderful. It's convenient. The problem is we have New Jerseyy's most awesome campus. And so this month, we put the agenda aside and we took the entire chamber on a tour of the building and they were blown away. Um we went into CAD manufacturing classes. A lot of these um community members are in the trades. Um it was fantastic. So they saw such a diversity of learning from uh music and art to computer animation etc. This in particular was uh a moment unscripted where the mayor of Sussex and the mayor of Wage were actually in Mr. Kapler's room looking at 3D models of redesigning um retail space and highways and land use within um their municipalities. So it was a really nice it's a great group and we're happy to have them here. It is truly
017a privilege to be able to bring people into our building and to show them what we have and what we offer. Two weeks ago, eight different high schools in the county sent students here for a celebration of song and we had a countywide choir event. We were proud to be the hub of that great event. And on 1111, of course, Veterans Day, we had two former students, one community member come in and have a very casual um a lot of stories, a lot of questions. Students uh thank them for their service and for 45 minutes they heard about um their careers and experiences um serving our country. Our tech program is spectacular. Mr. Drill before him, Mr. Wallace into something really impressive. Our old Brook Martin, one of our sorry, Brook Guerrera, excuse me, is
018the president of the New Jersey Tech Education Association. So, two weeks ago, there was a meeting with 300 educators led by one of our faculty universities and president of the statewide association. So, we're really proud of her. We always brag that High Point spends more resources. We find a way to take our students to more places than any other district. Last week, our marine science class and our animal behavior class. Are you on this trip or something? All right. One of our vision vision points is to expand access to a wider group of students to make sure that these enrichment activities are more inclusive. This was a tremendous example of that. It was a hands-on lab activity. It was a world-class experience and we're really proud of our teachers like Miss Sunda and Miss Almstead
019and others who put tremendous amount of time into planning these trips. It's a hallmark of who we are and we're very proud of these trips and proud of the board's support. As you may know, next month the program of studies will be on the agenda that we look forward to telling you about uh what is I can't believe 2627 is on the horizon. And also we sometimes like to celebrate things that our staff members do even if they're not directly related to our curriculum. I just found out that uh Mr. James Rice and his faithful companion Chocolate Chip Wiz um came in 29th in the world at a recent NRHA showcase. So, we're very proud of Mr. Rice and everything he does for our school and um he promised me to give you a ride
020on chocolate chip wiz. >> Thank you, Mr. >> Congratulations, Mr. Um, okay. Return to our agenda. We have no other business. So, we'll move to our action items, curriculum, instruction, and technology. >> Okay. So, items one, two, and three are uh attendance for faculty, student, and students, and the suspension report for October. I'd like to move items four through eight together. Item four is the harassment, intimidation, and bullying report from October 29th through November 25th, 2025. Um, number five are the field trips um with an attachment. Number six are the professional uh development activities and there is an attachment. Number seven is to approve the revised 2526 school calendar, which reflects three half days for students due to staff professional development. And item eight is to approve our HIP self assessment for 2425 school year
021which will be submitted to the NJOE. Make a motion second. Second. >> Any discussion? Roll call. >> Miss Diaz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Van Stone. >> Yes. >> Miss Longberg. >> Yes. >> Miss Wise. >> Yes. >> Miss Orsy. >> Yes. >> Miss Schuman. >> Yes. Yes. >> Okay. And uh next up is personnel proceed. >> I'd like to move items one through seven together to approve substitutes for this year. As listed Tyrone Basket, Riley Noah, Gregory Rosenfeld. Uh number two is to approve payment to Robert Robert Oassen as a par professional. Number three is to approve Kyle Stickle for grounds custodian for DM second rates. Number four is to accept with regret the retirement notification from Maryanne Chisa CST secretary. Number five is to approve Kenny Rabaza to participate in work experience program for
022the school store. Number six is to approve Justin Peekaro as a student teacher through William Patterson University. Number seven is to approve Michael excuse the misprononunciation as a special event as needed. I'm making a motion. No. Yeah. Making a motion seeking a second. Second. Is there any discussion or comments or questions? Roll call. >> Missy. >> Yes. >> Miss Longberg. >> Yes. >> Miss Wise. Yes, >> Mr. Van Stone. >> Yes, >> M. Schuman. >> Yes, >> M. Diaz. >> Yes, >> Mr. Dun. >> Yes. >> Passes. >> Uh, I will move uh items 1 through eight under extracurricular. First, uh item is to approve Robert Osborne as a volunteer coach for the girls wrestling team. Uh to his recommendation to approve members of the boys wrestling team to attend King of the Castle tournament.
023uh as listed. Um the resting booster club will cover the cost of rooms, food, and portion of transportation. Team is requesting the board cover the balance of transportation costs not to exceed $1,325. Uh item three is a recommendation to approve the ice rental agreement with Skyland's Iceworld for the upcoming school year. Item four is a recommendation to accept the resignation notification from Roger Foco as the assistant track coach effective immediately. Item five is recommendation to approve six members members of the girls wrestling team to attend the beast of the east wrestling tournament. Um wrestling booster club will cover cost of rooms food and a portion of transportation team is requesting the board cover the balance of transportation costs not to exceed $675. Item six is a recommendation to approve Troy Manorton as a volunteer boys
024wrestling coach for the upcoming school year. Item seven is a recommendation to approve Jason Wise as a volunteer advisor to the music tech club for the upcoming school year. And item eight is a recommendation to approve the following extracurricular appointments for the upcoming school year. Um we will cover that correction that has been noted on our agenda. Um, if I can, I'll make the motion if I can get a second. >> Um, any any discussion otherwise before I make a motion to make an amendment? Um, before do you need an amendment? Is it already here or is it >> I just want to be thorough just in case the agenda went out? some fire. >> Um, but I I will make comments on a number of these items. And we have volunteer coaches um offering
025their most precious commodity, which is time to help uh our programs become and remain successful, particularly our um wrestling programs and our girls wrestling program. No, but all volunteers are very much appreciated in all aspects. Um, we have a number of them here. So, thank you to those individuals. If any other no other comments, I'll make a motion to amend item eight per what uh per the correction that was uh noted on our um markedup agenda, which is a effectively a change to the program for the total amount when they track coach from 5,54 to 6,086. >> Just move from step two to step five. >> Yes. >> So, um >> I'm sorry about the error. >> I'll make I make that motion for amendment and I have a second on that second. Do >>
026we need a roll call on that one or we can just vote as amended? >> Okay. Uh, so the amended motion then is as we have it listed. Okay. So I'm still trying to move all eight items >> with the amendment on item eight. Okay. We're all clear. >> Yes. >> I'll take a roll call. >> Okay. Miss Diaz. >> Yes. >> Miss Schuman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Van Stone. >> Yes. >> Miss Longberg. >> Yes. >> Miss Wise. >> Yes. >> Miss Dorsy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Dun. Yes. >> Passes. >> Okay. Um I'll return to Mrs. Orber policy. >> So our first item is the recommendation by the superintendent that the board of education approved the first reading of the following new policy policy 2365 which is the acceptable use of generative AI.
027Making a motion seeking a second. >> Second. >> Any questions? Seconded. Nancy. Oh, yes. >> Um, I just want to thank Dr. Ripley for putting this forward. Um, it's something that many schools are grappling with. Uh, and I like the fact that we are um putting something in policy. It may not be perfect. We'll see. But um at least we have something that defines for um our stakeholders what is acceptable. What is it? Again, as we spoke about in committee, we wanted to get this done uh and prepared for November so we could have a second reading for December so that we're able to move forward with some type of pilot program beginning of the second semester so that we can all become more acclimated with the utilization of AI so as to ease the
028burden on our educators and to provide personalized data driven instruction to our students and so that we can utilize AI for its positive uh aspects to provide our kids with um opportunities for the world in which of the future, not the world of the past. And uh we want to be in front of that, not behind. >> Yes. I think it's it's great that we're starting this discussion now. Also making sure we guard against the detriments. >> Yeah. That's what the policies and it is one of the board uh and district goals for the year. So >> Miss Orsy, >> yes. >> Miss Wise, >> yes. >> Miss Lombberg, >> yes. >> Mr. Van, >> yes. >> Miss Schuman, >> yes. >> Miss Diaz, >> yes. >> Mr. Dun, >> yes. >> So for item
029number two, do I need to make amendment district? Yeah. Um, do we have to move it before we table it >> to bring it? >> If you move it, you can move the table. >> Doesn't exist if it hasn't happened in the meeting. Right. >> Right. We struck it. We're going to strike it from here. Okay. So, >> didn't move it. It'll be recognized in the minutes that it did not get moved. >> Not as not as a move. So it doesn't >> I don't think Robert order >> certainly a defensible position >> whatever I don't know so that I think that was the extent of the uh action items in policy correct >> uh so then that means we have uh no action items under negotiations buildings and grounds um let's yeah let's uh
030while We are on buildings and grounds. Um I'm going to allow Dr. Ripley first to co about the buildings and grounds issues that we are being very transparent about our community land. Very much appreciate that. >> Yes. As um as you all know last week we had an issue with one of our well pumps that are two on campus. Um I will refer to them as well one and well two. Well, tube started to fail. The pump was not keeping the pressure high enough in our water holding tank to service the building properly. Our buildings and grounds guys were great. They were on top of it. Brian Vansour and his entire crew were outstanding throughout. We had a water truck delivered. Um, and Brian and I were here on that Saturday to make sure that
031everything was connected. We were ready to go for school on Monday so that there was no interruption. We had the well replace the pump replaced in well two. During the process, we came to find out that well one was not operational at all, which may or may not have had something to do with the strain on the pump in in well two. We were a we were back up and running for 4 days. As of this morning, well two failed again. So, the water truck has been reattached, refilled, and will be here throughout the holiday weekend to ensure that the facility is operational. Um, the drilling team arrived this afternoon with their crane. They will be back tomorrow to pull the pump that is malfunctioning to find out what went wrong with it. Um, we've
032read our insurance company in there is a claim outstanding that they are reviewing to see if there's that they can cover to help us cover some of these unexpected costs. Um, and that's kind of where we stand at this moment. The building again is up and operational. There's no interruption to students. The water is safe, portable water, and we will continue to operate as normal as we can. >> Build pump 2 was new and it failed. >> Correct. >> And we don't know why yet. >> We don't know why until they get it back out of the ground. I'm hoping it's something that's under warranty. >> Yeah, I was gonna say the company should have after a week. I would think >> um Yeah, I just want to thank you for uh your role in
033helping with all this and the fact that we are keeping the public informed. I I pulled up the website to look at something else and there's a notice about the portable water source. >> Yes. um as well the fact that you know that we're not trying to hide things that happen just by you know things break down. Um it in the letter that went out to the community also you know at least we're keeping people updated um and not wondering in the void of information that can cause some problems. So, thank you. >> Sure. >> Uh, so much for no action items, buildings and grounds. I'll move on to finance. Um, I'd like to move items 1 through 10. Yeah. One is a recommendation to accept the report of the board secretary and business administrator
034for the month of October 2025. M2 is a recommendation to accept the report of the treasurer for October 2025. Item three is a recommendation to approve the report of transfers and minimum expense transfer report for October 2025. Item four is a recommendation to approve for payment the attached schedule of audited bills dated November 25th, 2025. Item five is a recommendation accept the adult education agency account, athletic account, cafeteria account, construction account, principal petty cash account, scholarship account, school store, and student activities reconciliations for October 2025. Item six is a recommendation to approve the comprehensive maintenance plan and M1 for the upcoming school year. Item seven is a recommendation to gratefully accept the attached list of donations received from the girls soccer kick for the cure game, boys soccer kick for the cure soccer game, girls
035volleyball play pink game, and field hockey play pink game. Uh which will be given to the team's chosen charities. Item eight is a recommendation to approve the attached uh 2026 2027 budget calendar. Item nine is a recommendation to authorize the execution of an agreement between the Salem County Special Services uh district board of ed and High Point School District Board of Ed uh to provide shared services for the upcoming school year. And finally, item 10 is a recommendation to approve and authorize the execution of the following tuition contracts between High Point as a sending district and the following districts uh as listed therein. So I will make that motion 1 through 10. May I have a second? Second. >> Um I just want to address item seven. I normally move that uh separately, but the
036there were I saw the list for each of these games. There there are a huge number of generous um families, businesses, whatever in our community that have donated uh year after year uh for many of these games. And I mean I happen to see even some businesses were donate had donated to multiple of these that are listed within the same month. So I just want to thank um those businesses and those families or individuals for their generous donations. Uh although this is not money that that goes to the functioning of any of the the uh the teams, it goes to charities that the whole reason for them putting these these events together is to benefit these these charities and a lot of them are for health causes and such uh in our own community. So
037thank you to anybody of that long list that had donated. >> Yes. Um, I have one question about number nine, uh, the shared services agreement for Salem County special services. Is this like a, uh, like a one student out of district situation or they're coming here to do? >> It's for one student. >> It's for a student that is that is placed there. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Any other comments, Jason? >> Mr. Mr. Van Stone, >> yes. >> Miss Longberg, >> yes. >> Miss Wise, >> yes. >> Miss Diaz, >> yes. >> Miss Schuman, >> yes. >> Missy, >> yes. >> Mr. D, >> yes. >> Um, and in transportation, could I ask you, Mr. Van? >> Sure. >> Yeah. Um, so I'm moving all eight together. So, the first seven are all What's
038that? >> Nose. Oh, that's right. Um, so it's nine. So the first eight then are all quoted contracts. Just the first one was a quote that did not have the second bid and nine is the execution of the um joint transportation agreement. These are all just regular order items. There's nothing new and exciting here this month like so many months there are. But I so move those items. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Does anybody have any questions or comments about said items? >> I guess roll call. >> Right. >> Mr. Van Stone, >> yes. >> Miss Diaz, >> yes. >> Miss Schuman, >> yes. >> Miss Longberg, >> yes. >> Miss Weise, >> yes. >> Morsy, >> yes. >> Mr. Dunn, >> yes. >> Passes. >> Okay, that's the end of action
039items. We have no correspondence under miscellaneous our standing note about school board mandated training and I know a couple of you took advantage of the opportunity to do that at workshop. Uh if anybody else is uh up for that you can see this is um and then uh we'll move to our second public comment section of the evening. Same rules apply uh as the prior section. Please state your name and address. And we have any comments virtually. Just checking none virtually and apparently none in the room. A motion to close public comments, please. >> So move in a second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Any oppose? >> Okay. Um, any non-committee board member reports or comments? >> I'd just like to say thank you. um for the field trips. My son has um
040had the opportunity to go on um two field trips that we uh we've approved and um I think that they really allow the kids to experience something that they wouldn't experience being, you know, in the classroom. Um you know, he he took part in dissecting a shark and um was walking the beaches, you know, netting things and waiters. So, I think there were some really great life experiences and I um I'm proud that our school can continue to do this when so many other schools the field trips were the first thing to be eliminated so long ago. Um so I uh I think it's a credit to our fiscal responsibility that we can put some money aside to be able to fund these opportunities. >> You're here. >> Thank you. >> Any other comments? >>
041See none. I have a motion to adjurnn. So move >> a second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed?